Turn After-School Play Into English Learning — Dongdaemun-gu Launches Hands-On Program!

Dongdaemun-gu in Seoul will run its second-half "English and Play" program for four weeks starting Tuesday, offering first- through third-grade elementary school students a chance to pick up English naturally through hands-on activities and play after school.

The program pairs lower-grade students with native English-speaking instructors for activities centered on making, moving and expressing — designed to build interest in and confidence with the language.

A key feature of this round is its integration of students' areas of interest — including culture, cooking and AI — with English learning, moving beyond textbook instruction. Students listen and speak in English during play and everyday activities, gaining experience using the language in real situations rather than simply knowing it.

The second-half program is organized into three tracks tailored to grade level and interests: World Culture Experience, English Cooking and AI Explorers.

First-graders in the World Culture Experience track explore foods and games from around the world alongside English. Second- and third-graders in the English Cooking track make dishes themselves, picking up English vocabulary for ingredients and cooking steps along the way.

The AI Explorers track introduces basic concepts of artificial intelligence and responsible use, with creative activities such as composing songs and designing characters using AI tools. The track is structured to make AI approachable and fun for students through English and play.

Each track is built around student participation rather than instructor-led lectures, helping children come to see English not as a subject to study but as a tool for communicating and expressing ideas with friends.

The program runs for a total of 12 sessions over four weeks, with 20 students per track and 60 participants in all. Classes are held each week on designated days from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hwigyeong-Imun Nuri Community Welfare Center and Dapsimni Film and Media Art Center.

The district hopes the program will give students a practical setting for English experience during after-school hours and serve as an opportunity to discover the joy of communicating in English through everyday play and activities.

"We hope children can step away from the pressure of studying English and encounter the language naturally — and enjoyably — through a variety of play and hands-on experiences," Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Choi Dong-min said. "We will continue to expand education programs that reflect students' needs and perspectives."